From innovative car dealership concepts to the shape of automotive retailing in the next 10 years – AM Digitech conference speaker line-up confirmed

By Debbie Kirlew

29 March 2018

The full line-up of speakers at April’s AM DigiTech conference, tackling the digital and technological challenges facing automotive retailers, has been confirmed.

The second AM DigiTech includes speakers from Google and KPMG as well as digital innovators and automotive retail disruptors Rockar which is now taking its successful retail concept into the high street.

Taking place at the Hilton Doubletree in Milton Keynes on April 17, AM DigiTech also explores ever-changing sophisticated new technology including the rise of EV ownership and how that impacts dealers, to understanding the extent of IT functions and software programmes required to operate in a digital world to meet consumer expectations and new the new GDPR.

The programme for the day will start with Google's Ben Gault who takes a look into the next decade of automotive retailing.

With 1-1.2 million EVs predicted to be on the road by 2022, Tom Callow, director of communication and strategy, Chargemaster will then explore how dealers need to adapt.

Discussing findings from KPMG’s latest report Global Automotive Executive Survey 2018 Justin Benson, head of automotive, KPMG, highlights the changing automotive retail landscape.

Gary Smith, managing director, Optimising IT outlines the IT scalable infrastructure and cloud systems forward-thinking dealers are deploying to futureproof businesses for the next five years.

Keynote speaker Martin Sewell, Rockar's managing director, closes the conference with insights on the company’s innovative strategy and its plans to take its omi-channel retail platform to the next stage with its partnership with High Street store Next and Ford.

AM editor Tim Rose said: “Every dealership is digitally driven and operations are evermore dependent on software and advanced technology, however, the retail landscape continues to change and the sector is still catching up with the consumer.

“New trends on the horizon like vehicle ownership, the rise of EVs and the connected car are all impacting the traditional dealership model.

“Dealers need to innovate, adopt agile working practices and embrace cutting edge tech to stay ahead of the game.

“DigiTech will arm the sector’s senior figures and up and coming leaders with the knowledge and insight to devise strategies which keep pace with the modern motorist and latest developments.

“AM’s conference will tackle the difficult questions, identify potential solutions, and share expertise, knowledge and experience to give dealers what they need to prepare for what is already shaping up to be a very different future from the 100+ year-old model of automotive retailing. We promise it will be insightful, thought-provoking and the best way to grasp the implications of the on-going digitisation of our sector.”

DigiTech is a must for dealers looking to thrive in a modern retail environment which is digitally driven and reliant on sophisticated technology, analytical tools and data sets.